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At this moment what is demanded by the prevailing orthodoxy is an uncritical admiration of Soviet Russia. Everyone knows this, nearly everyone acts on it. Any serious criticism of the Soviet regime, any disclosure of facts which the Soviet government would prefer to keep hidden, is next door to unprintable.’

George Orwell, ‘The Freedom of the Press

George Orwell’s writing – especially after his experience of the Spanish Civil War – is highly critical of the Soviet regime and its uncritical adherents. His works, especially Animal Farm and 1984 (which both satirise the USSR), circulated illicitly and widely behind the Iron Curtain. So what was – and what is – Orwell’s influence on Russia? The Orwell Prize is delighted to be bringing Masha Karp and John Lloyd together to talk about Orwell and Russia, chaired by Jean Seaton.